Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-13
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Senate, After q Lengthy Debate,
Passes Subsidy Bill for Ameri-
can Mail Ships.
The House Passes the Bill Providing for
the Retirement of the Trade Dol
lar After Six Months.
NLIN CONGRE IS.
THE SENATE.


introduced by him yesterday to increase
the naval establishment, aud gave notice
that he would call it up Monday imme-
diately after the morning business.
Senator Hale reported back from the
naval committee, with amendment, the
bill introduced by him yesterday to FRO
vide for the increase of the naval estab-
lishment, and gave notice that he will
call cali it up at an early day.
The amendment appropriates 100000
600 for the armament of vessels, for the
construction of which the bill provides.
The bill now arpropriates sl5, 400, 900.
The Senate tnen resumed cOnsidera-
ton Of the postOtlice appropriation DILL,
the question being on an amendment APP
prOpriating $500, 900 for mails to South
America.
Senator Beck replied to some of the re-
marks OF Senator Plumb yesterday. That
Senator he said seemed to think there had
been undue economy on the part of the
Postotiice Department. He was glad that
the Senator had to admit it was clean
bill without any jobbing in it, nothing to
bring scandal, at least, on the administra-
ton Of the Postoffice Department. This
was the first time, so far a he (B-ck)
knew, that complaints were made that the
administration CT the department was too
economical.
Senator Plumb said he and the Sena-
tor from Kentucky had been now for
five years on the subcommittee which
had charge of the postoflice appropria-
ton bill, and he asked him to state
whether there had been any jObbery in
such bills during that time.
Senator Beck replied that since the
star route matters had been got rid of,
there had been no Jobbery in the
postotlice appropriations that he was
aware OF.
Senator Morgan moved TO amend the
subsidy amendment by inserting instead
Of the word "built" the words "owned
and oflicered," so that the sentence will
read: For the transportation of foreign
mails by American owned and Differed
steamships" Also to add to the para
graph as follows: "Such steamship so
owed and differed shall be entitled to
be enrolled registered and licensed as
American built ships while they are en-
ployed 10 the execution of said contract
for the transportation of foreign mails
Senator Plumb quoted Il paragraph
from the Atlanta Constitution character
izing as ''ridiculousn the management, or
rather mismanagement, OF the mail serv-
ice in Georgia.
Senator Coke said that in Texas the
service was very poor. 1t had never
been worse except during the war.
Senator Plumb referring to the subsidy
amendment, said that the POstoffice De
partment was this year in favor of what
that amendment provided for. He could
not add anything to what the Postmaster
General had in his last annual report
stated so successfully, so ably, and so ex-
tensively on this subject, and he Plumb
Endorsed every word of it. An extract
from the Postmaster General report was
read by the clerk. az believe" said Mr..
Plumb, continuing, "that if this sppro-
pIiatiOn be made this year, the Postmas
ter-General will ask next year for
more. His horizon will widen, he
will understand the greater necessity
for postal extension and will see more
the benefits to be derived therefrom, and
when he comes here he viii not be asked
by the Senate whether he be a Democrat
or Republican. He will be asked only
what he proposes to do to extend proper
postal facilities to citizens of the United
States at home and abroad, and what in
cidentsl advantages are to be expected
in building up commerce and business
interests ard IL promoting the welfare of
the people.
Senator Beck opposed the subsidy
amendment. The extract from the Post
master-G Generals report he said he had
heard before, but he had, in committee
and out OF committee, insisted that a
false construction was put upon it, and
that the Postoflice Department Was as
much opposed to this subsidy as it mad
been to The subsidy of last year. The
proposed subsidy was not ia the interest
of the POstOtiice Department, but could
be to the injury of the Postoflice Depart
ment. The majority of committee
had seen fit to assume that the language
of the ostmaster-GeneraPs repeat was
in accordance with the subsidy amend
ment, and, therefore, ne had himself ap-
piled to the Postmsster-General on the
subject and had received letter which
he would now read to the Senate. The
Postmaster-Gereral says in this let
ter: ga fair reading of my
two reports, one for 1881
and the other for 1885, will show, unless
am very greatly mistaken, that the only
object OF purpose in view in the sugges-
ton in the last report was to obtain car
rage OF mails to South American repub-
lies, with double service to Brazil, at such
cheap and economical figures as would be
necessary for the purpose and that no
idea Of subsidy for the mere croa-
ton Of q line Of trade and travel was
proposed. There are companies NOM
inally or actually of foreign organization
Vyh I belieyp JVoul5 cOD1On+a this
service and furnish it at comparatively a
cheap figure. Ibeheve also if that COM
petition were admitted an American com
panY would secure the service instead of
a foreign company, but at a fair remuner-
alton aud not as recipient Of a subsidy.
think there is good reason to expect
forded for it, and that an enlargement
Of cur postal facilities may be
secured with no vicious course of sub
sidy legislation to bring it about. It WAS
in this belief that the suggestions in the
last report of 1886 was made. l cannot
anticipate what may be said unfairly per-
haps in criticism of the report or in sup
port OF the assertion that suggestion for
this new service is inconsistent with
the position taken in the report Of 1885.
think at least that see
the distinction. The distinction itself is
clear and substantial, and that expansion
of the postal service may be secured use
fully and desirably without the payment
Of dollar of subsidy, but only by giving
@ fair remuneration for very limited
carriage at the beginning Senator
Beck went on to say that The subsidy was
not wanted and was not asked for.